Kaluza to be guest on HBA’s TV program

YOUNGSTOWN — Joe Kaluza is the featured guest on The Home Builders Association’s weekly television program.

Kaluza will appear in a 30-minute segment on “HBA Close to Home” at 9:30 a.m. Saturday on MyYTV. Joshua Aikens, executive officer for HBA of Mahoning Valley, said that the segment is dedicated to the new home a group of volunteers is building for Kaluza.

“It was moving and inspirational,” Aikens said.

Kaluza, former manager of KFC on South Avenue, was shot by a robber March 24, 2008, as he left the restaurant to make a bank deposit. The injury left him a quadriplegic.

Anna Fitzgerald, Kaluza’s sister, and Jim Phillips, a family friend, coordinated a fund-raising campaign to build the family a new house.

Seven area businessmen are handling the construction project.

Drywall is scheduled to be hung in the new Ivanhoe Avenue home Thursday, and Aikens said about 40 volunteers are needed to help with the task. So far about 400 people have volunteered.

For information on how to volunteer contact Andrea Murphy at (330) 717-2507.